Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER step into the spotlight
That Thursday night in Barcelona crackled with energy when WWE SmackDown hit town. May 29, 2026, became one to remember as grudges sharpened under Spanish lights. Title hopes rose, not through luck but raw momentum building across matches. Faces clashed where words failed – trust long gone, replaced by stiff chops and staredowns. Outcomes here steered what comes next at the big Italy showdown. A win meant more than stats – it shifted power. Some walked out taller, others nursing pride along with bruises. Each bout fed into the growing weight of Clash’s arrival. Not everything settled – but tension? That multiplied.
Out of nowhere, tension rose when Cody Rhodes stood face to face with GUNTHER late in the night. Not just talk, but sharp glares followed every line thrown between them. With seconds left on air, voices grew louder instead of fading out. This clash wasn’t settled – only sharpened – for what comes next at the payoff event.
Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill still at odds
Out of nowhere, Rhea Ripley began speaking to fans at ringside. Right after she started, Jade Cargill appeared alongside B-Fab and Michin cutting her off. Then suddenly, Charlotte Flair walked out with Alexa Bliss tagging along behind. That shifted things on the spot, balancing the numbers face to face. Soon enough, officials confirmed a matchup between them would happen before the broadcast ended.
Victory came to Jade Cargill after she outlasted Alexa Bliss in a grueling match. Right after, she made her point clear – smashing an opponent with Jaded right on top of a steel chair. That brutal moment cranked up the heat between her and Ripley ahead of their showdown at Clash in Italy.
Cody Rhodes Warns of What’s Coming
Out back, Sami Zayn pulled Cody Rhodes aside to talk about what happened the previous week. Not wanting things left unclear, he said he moved out of the way so Rhodes could take something from the moment. In reply, Rhodes made it known that once he wraps up business with GUNTHER, someone else will get his full focus – Zayn himself.
Axiom walked away with a solid win even though chaos hovered around the bout. Before things got started, plans nearly fell apart when The Miz pushed to scrap the fight upon hearing his partner Kit Wilson was stuck in customs.
Major Matches Shape The Road Ahead
Finding success elsewhere on the card, Tama Tonga alongside Tanga Tonga bested Royce Keys and Damian Priest. Later in the night, Sami Zayn came out ahead after facing off against Matt Cardona.
Out of nowhere, Ricky Saints locked horns again with Carmelo Hayes. Not long after the bell rang, both men found themselves outside the ring, unwilling or unable to get back in time. A ten-count played out, then silence – neither made it under the ropes before the ref reached the final number. What came next? Nothing settled. Tension stayed hanging like smoke after a flare.
SmackDown concludes with intense title confrontation
A quiet hush fell as Cody Rhodes stood across from GUNTHER. Not pride, but something heavier drove the champion’s words. He spoke of respect – how it slips away when fame takes hold. Instead of praise, there came a warning aimed at Rhodes. What matters, he said, isn’t trophies or cheers but what stays unbroken beneath the lights.
Rhodes shot back, saying GUNTHER wasn’t the fighter he used to be when ruling the indies as WALTER. That belt, Rhodes claimed, hooks you like a habit. Soon enough, he said, GUNTHER would find out how far below the top tier he really stood.
Out of nowhere, Gunther stood tall, talking about what he’s actually done. Not long after, names came up – AJ Styles, Goldberg, John Cena – all said to be finished by him. Then came the promise: when the lights go down in Italy, the title stays on his shoulder. A quiet nod followed, like it was already settled.
Hearts pounding, old grudges flaring – SmackDown fired up the crowd just days before the clash in Rome. The air crackled. Every move sharper now. Tensions spilled from the ring into the stands. No calm left, only buildup. Moments stretched like wire. Faces locked in familiar hate. One last surge set the stage. Italy waited.
